Saufatu Sopoanga

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Redirect Template:Infobox officeholder Saufatu Sopoanga (22 February 1952 – 15 December 2020)<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> was a Tuvaluan politician who served as the eighth prime minister of Tuvalu from 2 August 2002 to 27 August 2004.<ref name="Clements2005">Template:Cite book</ref> He drew international attention for his speeches warning about the effects of the rising sea level on Tuvalu and other low-lying island countries.

He later served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2004 to 2006. His younger brother Enele Sopoaga served as Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 2013 to 2019.

Early life and career

Sopoanga was born on Nukufetau Atoll on 22 February 1952. He received a diploma in development administration from South Devon Technical College, Torquay in 1978 and a postgraduate diploma from the University of Manchester in 1992. In 1993, he received a Master's degree from the University of Liverpool.<ref name="EastThomas2003">Template:Cite book</ref>

Sopoanga began working in the civil service of the Ellice Islands in 1973, and was a permanent secretary for different ministries between 1975 and 1995.<ref name="EastThomas2003" /> During his time at the Ministry of Natural Resources, he facilitated visits by foreign geologists after Tuvalu became a member of the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission in 1984.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> From 1996 until his retirement in October 2000, he was a state secretary, the highest rank in the civil service.<ref name="EastThomas2003" />

The Electoral Provisions (Parliament) Act of Tuvalu was amended in May 2000 to increase the membership of parliament from 12 to 15 MPs.<ref name="PPJF8">Template:Cite web</ref> Sopoanga was elected as a member of the Parliament of Tuvalu for the constituency of Nukufetau, in a special election in November 2000, (together with Amasone Kilei and Namoto Kelisiano) and they attended their first parliamentary session on 7 December 2000.<ref name="QC1">Template:Cite web</ref> He became a Special Ministerial Adviser in the Ministry of Works, Communications & Transport to the government of Prime Minister Ionatana Ionatana.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Under prime minister Koloa Talake, he served as the minister for finance, economic planning and industry.<ref name="Secretariat2002">Template:Cite book</ref>

Prime Minister of Tuvalu

Sopoanga was elected Prime Minister of Tuvalu by the Parliament of Tuvalu on 2 August 2002 after the general election.<ref name="IPU02">Template:Cite web</ref> He also held the foreign affairs and labour portfolios.<ref name=EastThomas2003/>

After being elected Prime Minister, Sopoanga announced his intention to create a plan to improve education and healthcare in Tuvalu. He attended a United Nations Sustainable Development summit in Johannesburg in September 2002, where he warned that Tuvalu would be completely submerged in 50 years due to global warming-related increases in sea level. <ref name="EastThomas2003" /> On 24 September 2003, Sopoanga delivered a speech to the United Nations General Assembly which outlined issues facing Tuvalu on its 25th anniversary of independence, such as economic underdevelopment. He called climate change "a slow and insidious form of terrorism" against Tuvalu.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

As Tuvalu's parliament is nonpartisan, both Sapoanga's government and the opposition experienced periodic defections and uncertain by-elections.<ref name="PPJF">Template:Cite journal</ref> Due to this instability, Sopoanga personally voiced support for making Tuvalu a republic with a directly-elected head of government.<ref name="EastThomas2003" />

The Sopoanga government first lost its majority in May 2003, following the results of the 2003 Nanumea by-election and the 2003 Niutao by-election.<ref name="GH2006">Template:Cite journal</ref> As Sopoanga did not call parliament afterward, opposition leader Amasone Kilei filed a case on 20 June 2003 with the High Court of Tuvalu seeking orders regarding the appointment of a speaker and the calling of parliament. The governor-general had already issued a notice on 19 June ordering the election of a speaker,<ref name="AG2003" /> which was won by opposition MP Faimalaga Luka.<ref name="RNZI_5191">Template:Cite web</ref> On 6 August 2003, the Chief Justice of the High Court issued his decision on the case: he declined to force the prime minister's resignation, and deferred the decision to call parliament to the governor general's reserve powers as defined under Section 116(1) of the Constitution of Tuvalu.<ref name="AG2003">Template:Cite web</ref>

Sopoanga finally recalled parliament to meet in September.<ref>Template:Usurped, Radio Australia, 26 August 2003</ref> On 9 September, he nominated the new Speaker Faimalaga Luka as the next governor general, triggering the 2003 Nukufetau by-election in October. Elisala Pita won the by-election and joined the government's benches, restoring its majority.<ref>Template:Usurped, Radio Australia, 13 October 2003</ref>

On 25 August 2004, Sopoanga resigned as prime minister after a no confidence motion carried in parliament, 8–6. One of the government members was sick in New Zealand, and the Speaker Otinielu Tausi voted with the opposition due to a disagreement over Sopoanga's financial policies.<ref name="tuvaluislands.com">Template:Usurped, Agence France-Presse, 26 August 2004</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Later career

After resigning as prime minister, Sopoanga resigned his seat in parliament to delay the election of a new prime minister, as the Constitution required all fifteen MPs to vote. The 2004 Nukufetau by-election was held on 7 October, and Sopoanga regained his seat.<ref name="PIR">Template:Cite journal</ref> However, Maatia Toafa was elected prime minister on 11 October 2004, 8–7.<ref name="RNZ111004">Template:Cite web</ref> Sopoanga then became deputy prime minister, also holding the Works, Communications & Transport portfolio.<ref name="IPU06">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> At the 2006 Tuvaluan general election, Sopoanga lost his seat in Parliament.<ref name="TN3806">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="TNTV1">Template:Cite web</ref>

After leaving parliament, Sopoanga served as Chairman of various organizations, such as the Tuvalu National Private Sector Organization<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the Public Service Commission.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was also the Secretary-General of the Tuvalu Red Cross.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2018, he became a member of Tuvalu's Memory of the World Committee.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Sopoanga had several brothers; his younger brother Enele was also Prime Minister from 2013 to 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sopoanga and his wife Filifau had four children.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Death

Sopoanga died on 15 December 2020 in Tuvalu. He received a state funeral on 22 December 2020.<ref name=":0" />

Honours

• Officer, Order of the British Empire (OBE), 1998 Birthday Honours<ref name="TLG">Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• Politics of Tuvalu